Uniform linear acceleration Introduction This topic is about particles which move in a straight line and accelerate uniformly.

Problems can vary enormously, so you have to have your wits about you. Problems can be broken down into three main categories:

Constant uniform acceleration Time-speed graphs Problems involving two particles

Constant uniform acceleration Remember what the following variables represent: t the time ! a the acceleration ! u the initial speed ! v the final speed ! s the displacement from where the particle started. "hen the acceleration is negative, it is sometimes called a deceleration or retardation. #or e$ample, an acceleration of %& ms-' is the same as a deceleration (or retardation) of & ms-'. * To answer this +uestion, you will need to use the four key formulae intelligently. They are:

* ,t is important to know the second of these e+uations off by heart! the others appear on Page -. of The /athematical Tables. 0econdly, you may be asked to derive either of the last two e+uations from the first two. Practise this. * These four formulae will be useful elsewhere (for e$ample when doing 1uestions & and - on pro2ectiles and connected particles). Time-speed graphs Remember that the above formulae may be used only while the acceleration is uniform. ,f a particle speeds up, but then travels at a constant speed, and then slows down, the above formulae cannot be used for the entire 2ourney. ,n these cases we solve the problem by drawing a time-speed graph, with time as the hori3ontal a$is. There are four key points to remember about time-speed graphs: * The area between the graph and the time-a$is represents the distance travelled.

* The slope of the graph represents the acceleration. * ,f a particle starts from rest, then v = at 4i.e. the final speed will be the product of the acceleration and the time.5

* ,f a particle accelerates from rest for time t1 with acceleration a and immediately decelerates to rest in time t2 with deceleration d, then t1:t2 = d:a

#or e$ample, if the acceleration is 6 ms-' and the deceleration is 7 ms-',

then t1:t2 = d:a = 8:6 = 4:3 . ,t follows that accelerating and

of the time will be spent

of the time will be spent decelerating.

Problems involving two particles * ,f particles P and Q set off together and later overtake each other, then overtaking will occur when Sp Sq . ,f, however, P was '8 metres behind Q at the start, then when overtaking occurs, Sp = Sq + 25 * ,f P and Q are a distance l apart and move towards each other, they will meet when Sp + Sq = l * The greatest gap between particles P and Q occurs when vp = vq (because if their speeds are une+ual then the gap is either increasing or decreasing) * ,f particle A sets out and, two seconds later, particle B sets out in pursuit, then let t = the time which A spends on the road and t - 2 = the time which B spends on the road. (0tudents will often putt 9 ' instead of t - '.) Common mistakes Common mistakes made in doing this +uestion are: * :ssuming that the particle starts from rest, even though this is not stated in the +uestion. * ;sing the formulae where they do not apply. * <umping into the +uestion before giving it enough clear thought. * =ot drawing a clear time-speed graph. * >etting u represent the speed at two different moments. #or e$ample, if a particle travels from a to b, a distance of &. m in - seconds and then travels from b to c, a distance of 8- m in a further & seconds - how would you find the acceleration? @ou let u the speed of the particle at a (not anywhere elseA). Then you form an e+uation for the 2ourney 4ab5 and another for the 2ourney 4ac5 . These e+uations will be (using s = ut +at2) : 30 = u(4 +a(16 and 84 = u(! +a(4" . @ou solve these simultaneous e+uations to find a. =B: @ou do not form an e+uation for 4bc5, as the initial speed will not be the same u as in the first e+uation.